Mutiny Within, Deciblog #4: Sound Advice For Bands

Posted February 9 by Chris D.

By Chris Clancy (Mutiny Within)

Over the course of our time on Roadrunner Records, a recurring question from musicians is, "How did you guys get signed, and do you have any advice?" For this week’s Deciblog that's exactly what I'll be talking about. It's too hard to get some solid, brutal advice in this industry. In no particular order, here are my Top 7 points of advice:

7. The Element Of Luck: The last thing is obviously a bit of luck. But remember that the better your band is, the less luck you will need. If you have a good demo, great songs, a fairly unique sound and a good live show then your chances are greatly improved.

6. Self Analysis And Criticism: Some bands suck and don't realize it. You all know what I’m talking about. Film your shows and watch them back. See what's cool and what you need to work on. Rome wasn't built in a day, take it slow. You must be your biggest self critic. You can be your biggest fan too if you wish. You have to break yourself down to improve and it can be hard to hear that a song sucks. Don't defend your music with excuses until you consider feedback.

5. Be In The Right Place: If you're in a small town where nobody hears you then it's over. Relocate. I moved from England.

4. Demos: Demos are underrated still. Bands go to the studio, cut corners and go budget. Make sure your songs are worth it and cut a quality demo. Labels want to hear good quality. It shows you care about your music and will invest time, effort and money. A band with a bad demo sets off alarm bells instantly. Do your music justice. Another thing to remember is if you give tracks away for free then more people will take them. It's not about making money at this point. If that's what you want, you’re in the wrong business.

3. Band Sound: Everyone has influences and will tend to follow them. Don't sound like your favorite musicians. You're probably not as good, and if you're gonna sound like Lamb Of God then remember you're competing with them and guess what: You won't win.

2. Songwriting: This is the most important thing for any band. Nobody wants to see or follow a band with bad songs. Songwriting is a craft and takes time to learn. Drawing upon a vast range of influences will help. Be brutally self critical with your songs. If a part sucks, admit it and change it. If you love playing a part but it doesn't fit the songs then save it. Nobody cares if you like playing a riff. Show your songs to people and value their feedback. They are your audience after all.

1. Playing Shows: So many bands write six songs and go straight onto the local scene. They play the same venues every chance they get and play the same songs over and over. While this serves some purpose, if the songs aren't good enough then you're simply serving to harm yourself. Write 10 or 15 songs then pick your set from those. It'll be far stronger and have more impact.

** Mutiny Within's self-titled debut album hits stores February 23, 2010 on Roadrunner Records.

** Mutiny Within on tour with Sonata Arctica and Power Glove:

Apr 2 2010 The Trocadero Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Apr 3 2010 The Palladium Worcester, Massachusetts
Apr 5 2010 The Gramercy Theatre New York, New York
Apr 6 2010 Imperial de Quebec Qeubec City, Quebec
Apr 7 2010 Club Soda Montreal, Quebec
Apr 9 2010 Opera House Toronto, Ontario
Apr 10 2010 Blondie’s Detroit, Michigan
Apr 11 2010 House Of Blues Chicago, Illinois
Apr 12 2010 Station 4 St. Paul, Minnesota
Apr 13 2010 The West End Cultural Center Winnipeg, Manitoba
Apr 15 2010 The Warehouse Calgary, Alberta
Apr 16 2010 Starlite Room Edmonton, Alberta
Apr 18 2010 The Venue Vancouver, British Columbia
Apr 19 2010 El Corazon Seattle, Washington
Apr 20 2010 Peter’s Room Portland, Oregon
Apr 22 2010 Slim’s San Francisco, California
Apr 23 2010 Galaxy Theater Santa Ana, California
Apr 24 2010 House Of Blues West Hollywood, California
Apr 25 2010 U.B.’s Bar Mesa, Arizona
Apr 27 2010 Emo’s Alternative Lounging Austin, Texas
Apr 28 2010 Meridian Houston, Texas
Apr 29 2010 Marquee Tulsa, Oklahoma
Apr 30 2010 The Masquerade Atlanta, Georgia
May 1 2010 Volume 11 Raleigh, North Carolina
May 2 2010 Jaxx West Springfield, Virginia

Search Editorial